A Brave New World For Dotel
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With mere hours left before the MLB trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves completed their second major trade of the week, picking up closer Octavio Dotel from the Kansas City Royals for starting pitcher Kyle Davies.
Atlanta lags behind the New York Mets by only 4½ games in the NL East race, and they are also in the middle of the wild card picture, so strengthening the bullpen was a natural decision for GM John Schuerholz.
Dotel, 33, recovered from elbow surgery in 2005 to put up a 3.91 ERA for the Royals this year; he has also recorded 11 saves in 14 chances. Davies has the stuff to succeed, but has struggled for the second straight season, following up a nightmarish 8.38 ERA performance in 2006 with a 5.76 ERA this year.
